| July 2006 |
 |
| Strong across all regions, California's tech recovery comes to the state capital |
|
| How are things going in California these days? Rather well, actually. Statewide, 34.6% of workers say that their organizations are in hiring mode, according to the most recent Hudson Employment Index. The tech sector is leading the way, with 41 of the 100 fastest growing high-tech companies on the most recent Business 2.0 magazine list located in the Golden State
|
|
In the Sacramento area things are going well, too. AeA, the nation’s largest trade association for the high-tech industry, has identified Sacramento as the fastest growing California cybercity in its 2006 analysis of state trends. In addition the Sacramento Regional Research Institute, which monitors local economic activity, finds in its most recent monthly report that Sacramento's job growth rate of 2.8% surpasses that of the nation, the state of California, and the Bay Area. (It's been leading all three for over a year in that regard.)
The quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reports that an impressive 48% of the Sacramento companies interviewed plan to hire more employees in the third quarter. That's an unusually high percentage when compared to that of many other major metropolitan areas. Another 43% expect to maintain their current staff levels, and 2% are not certain of their hiring plans.
|
|
| 16% of Sacramento CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter |
| - Robert Half Technology's third-quarter IT Hiring Index |
|
And local CIOs agree, according to IT staffing consultancy Robert Half Technology, whose third-quarter IT Hiring Index finds that a net 16% of Sacramento CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter.
At Dice.com, the number of Sacramento job listings echos the trend, rising 9% in the second quarter, from 542 in March to 589 in June. With the return of venture capital ($10.4 billion into California in 2005, a 25% increase over 2003), the outlook for future growth is good.
At the same time, Sacramento has been ranked as one of "the 10 Fastest Cities in America" by Fast Company magazine. The ranking identifies hot emerging locales showing growth in creative classes including scientists, engineers and professionals. Another magazine, Inc., recently analyzed data from the 60 largest American metro areas and found Sacramento to be number 16 of its "best cities in which to do business." Only San Bernardino and Orange County rated higher in the state.
And AeA says in its California Cybercities report that Sacramento now has 42,200 high-tech jobs and is the state's sixth largest region for high-tech employment. The average wage: $72,500. “Sacramento’s tech industry is thriving,” says Roxanne Gould, AeA’s Senior Vice President for California Government and Public Affairs. “While other parts of the state continue to experience net job losses, Sacramento is growing faster than any of California’s major technology hubs.”
According to AeA, at the sector level Sacramento’s tech industry employment ranks fourth in the state in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing (6,400 jobs), fourth in electronic components manufacturing (5,900 jobs), and fifth in telecommunications services (11,600 jobs).
With more than 40 research institutions in the area, new funding for biotech research coming from the state and a large (if unpredictable) number of government IT jobs in the city, Sacramento seems well positioned to continue the growth that has attracted so much attention over the past year.
|
|
|
|
|
| Dice job postings in Sacramento are up 13% since Dec. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
